Message from the WSIS Team

Dear WSIS Stakeholders,

We would like to take this opportunity
to thank you for your support and
contribution towards a successful WSIS Forum
2012! The WSIS Forum 2012 was applauded as
the most successful forum till date;
successful in terms of participation and
outcome. This forum set the perfect example
for developing new partnerships, fruitful
networking, information exchange and
learning from experiences. 1300 stakeholders
from different parts of the world enriched
the event by reporting on WSIS
Implementation and sharing their vision on
the WSIS +10 Review process.

WSIS Forum 2012 launched the WSIS+10
Process on the Overall Review of the
Implementation of the WSIS Outcomes in the
two WSIS+10 Plenary sessions. Governments,
private sector, civil society and
international organizations shared their
vision on the WSIS+10 review process,
ensuring their commitment towards the
process.

This year, 18 WSIS Project Prizes were
awarded to projects, recognizing excellence
in implementation of WSIS Related
Activities. Congratulations to all the
winners!

We always strive to ensure that we provide
you with all WSIS related information
through the Flash, though some stakeholders actively
contribute to the Flash, we would like to
encourage all of you to send us information
on new
activities, publication releases and events.
The WSIS Forum 2012 Outcome Document,
highlights, interviews and photographs are
available
here.

Happy Reading!

Best wishes,
WSIS Team

WSIS Forum

More than 1300 stakeholders from over 140
countries, representing government, civil
society and the private sector took part in the
WSIS Forum 2012, hosted by ITU, which met
in Geneva from 14 to 18 May at the International Labour Organization (ILO). Several high-level
representatives including more than 35 ministers
and deputy ministers, ambassadors, chief
executive officers of companies, as well as
civil society leaders contributed passionately
to the event.

The WSIS Forum 2012 programme benefited from the
strategic partnership and contributions of the
United Arab Emirates (government) and Intel
Corporation (private sector). UAE and Intel
enriched the programme of the WSIS Forum by
organizing workshops and knowledge sharing
sessions.

WSIS Stocktaking

More than 6364 members are part of WSIS
Stocktaking Platform. Join us!

The principal role of the WSIS Stocktaking
exercise is to leverage the activities of
stakeholders working on the implementation
of WSIS outcomes and share knowledge and
experiences of projects by replicating
successful models.

The report on the World Summit on the
Information Society Stocktaking 2012,
released by ITU on 15 May reflected more
than 1000 latest WSIS related activities
emphasizing the efforts undertaken by
stakeholders involved in the WSIS process.

We would like to thank all stakeholders for
their contributions to the 2012 edition of
the WSIS Stocktaking Report, a continuation
of the WSIS Stocktaking Report series.

The report provides the overview of
activities related to 11 Action Lines for
the period 2010-2012.

The WSIS Stocktaking online platform
provides all stakeholders with an
opportunity to showcase their success
stories, search for partners and funding
opportunities, exchange experiences and
network amongst each other. In addition, all
stakeholders can benefit from the Global
Events Calendar, Global Repository, WSIS
Lab, Online Forums and Blogs by using the
Web 2.0 WSIS Stocktaking online platform
www.wsis.org/stocktaking.

WSIS PROJECT PRIZES

The Prize Ceremony was held on 14 May 2012
during the WSIS Forum 2012, in Geneva,
Switzerland.

ITU Secretary-General Dr. Hamadoun Touré
announced the winners of 18 WSIS Project
Prizes, as part of the Opening Ceremony of
the WSIS Forum 2012 event, which took place
in Geneva (14-18 May).

The prizes, which are being awarded for the
first time this year, recognize excellence
in the implementation of projects and
initiatives which further the goals of the
World Summit on the Information Society
(WSIS) in improving connectivity to
information and communication technologies
(ICTs) in line with the 11 Action Lines laid
out in WSIS outcome documents agreed at the
UN World Summit on the Information Society.

More than 170 projects from 50 countries
were nominated. Submissions, which were
subject to a stringent multi-phase
evaluation, came from governments,
international organizations, civil society,
the private sector and individuals,
reflecting the multi-stakeholder nature of
the WSIS process.

WSIS Project Prizes 2013 coming soon!

United Nations Group on the Information Society

ICTS: THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

UN Group on the Information Society side
event
2012 United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development
Sunday, 17 June 2012 – 17h30 to 19h00 - Room
P3-6 at RioCentro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The side event “ICTs: the foundation of our
sustainable future” looked at specific ICT
applications and services that can assist in
the transition towards a green economy,
focusing on the key role that policies,
regulations and international standards,
play to allow for the uptake of ICT
applications.

UNGIS Participants included:

Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO)

International Telecommunication
Union (ITU)

UN Commission on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD)

UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

UN Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

UN Women

WIPO (World Intellectual Property
Organization)

World Meteorological Organization
(WMO)

The meeting began with a review of the
outcome document for Rio+20 and participants
were asked to comment on the relevant
elements of that document and to highlight
what their organizations were doing to
ensure that the catalytic power of
information and communications technology
were put into the service of the three
pillars of sustainable development: economic
growth and prosperity, social inclusion and
environmental sustainability.

It was generally agreed that the outcome
document, entitled ‘The Future We Want’
stresses the importance of ICTs, technology,
broadband networks and innovation, as
essential components of sustainable
development.

It was also agreed that any UNGIS follow-up
activities and initiatives in the post
RIO+20 period should stress the importance
of equitable gender access to technology as
a means of empowerment.

Another important output from RIO+20 was the
opportunity it creates for UNGIS to provide
regular reports on substantive and policy
issues as they relate to the role of ICT and
innovation for sustainable development.

A summary of the key elements addressed
during the presentations, which were
considered essential components of the work
of UNGIS included the following concepts:

Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development

The 10th World Telecommunication/ICT
Indicators Meeting (WTIM) will take place
from 25-27 September, 2012, in Bangkok,
Thailand. The WTIM is organized by the
Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT)
of the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU). The ITU is an active member of the
Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development
and is currently the chair of the
Partnership’s Steering Committee. The WTIM
will be hosted by the Ministry of
Information and Communication Technology
(MICT) of Thailand.

The WTIM 2012 will address, among others,
the following topics:

The WTIM, open to all the membership, is
primarily targeted at those responsible for
ICT statistics in relevant Ministries,
regulatory agencies, telecommunication
operating companies and national statistical
offices. Experts interested in the subject
of information society measurements are also
welcome to attend the meeting.

ITU Telecom Young Innovators Competition

One week left to apply for the ITU Telecom
Young Innovators Competition!

ITU Telecom is seeking 18-25 year old
innovators with projects/concepts which
engage the power of ICTs to meet real-world
developmental challenges relevant to one of
eight core areas:

Cybersecurity

Education

Empowerment of Women

Environmental Sustainability

Healthcare

Human Rights

Transparency

Youth Employment

Submissions consisting of everything from
well researched concepts to ongoing
operations showing preliminary results are
welcome. From these, the twelve most
outstanding entries -– judged to have the
greatest possible social impact and
potential for business success – will win
the chance to attend and participate in ITU
Telecom World 2012, which takes place from
14-18 October in Dubai.

Final winners will also benefit from prize
money of up to CHF10 000 to realize their
entrepreneurial dreams.

ITU Broadband Reports

ITU is proud to inaugurate this new thematic
series of Broadband Reports. The first
reports in the series launched in 2012 focus
on cutting edge policy, regulatory and
economic aspects of broadband. Other related
areas and themes will be covered by
subsequent reports including market
analysis, broadband infrastructure and
implementation, and broadband-enabled
applications. In addition, a series of case
studies will complement the resources
already made available by ITU to all its
many different types of readers, but
especially to ICT regulators and
policy-makers.

Global Events Calendar

The Summit is organized by the
International Telecommunication Union
and is hosted by the Government of the
Republic of Panama. Connect Americas is
part of ITU's Connect the World series,
an ambitious initiative aimed at
connecting the unconnected by the year
2015.

The overall objective of the Connect
Americas is to mobilize the human,
financial and technical resources
required to close Information and
Communication Technology gaps in the
region. The Summit offers a venue for
leaders from the public and private
sectors as well as international and
regional financing and development
agencies to network face-to-face and
forge new partnerships. It is preceded
by a preparatory process during which
ICT development projects and project
holders are identified, as well as
partners and donors willing to
contribute to the implementation of the
selected projects, with a view to
enhance the deployment of ICT networks,
applications and services within the
region.

The Summit features discussion panels
and roundtables focusing on the
challenges posed to emerging and
transition economies in harnessing the
full potential of ICTs. Bold decisions
and commitments will be announced on
multi-stakeholder partnerships to meet
these challenges.

From Our Partners

"Freedom of opinion and freedom of
expression are cardinal both to Civil
Society and to the Information Society.
CoNGO and its members promote and defend
these fundamental principles throughout
the WSIS Process."

Cyril Ritchie, President of CoNGO
2011-2014

ITU NEWS - Latest Issue

Video Volunteers Announces 'IndiaUnheard' -
The World's First Community News Service:
Making Change By Bringing Untold Stories from
the Farthest Villages of India to Impact a
Global Audience.

A network of people from slums and villages in
India who have been trained to make video news
reports on corruption, human rights, health,
sanitation and other issues, IndiaUnheard is
making an impact in these villages and across
the globe. "Community Correspondents report on
human rights violations they live through, and
this gives their videos new perspective and
power." The work has inspired thousands of
poor people to organize and take actions.